Monaco Begins Annual Harvest of Heritage Bitter Orange Trees

Starting Monday, January 13, the Urban Planning Department of Monaco will begin the annual harvest of the Principality’s bitter orange trees, a tradition underscoring Monaco’s commitment to its distinctive horticultural legacy. Throughout key areas including La Condamine, Moneghetti, and Monte-Carlo, gardeners will prune and collect fruit from 516 untreated bitter orange trees, known locally as "bigaradiers." This activity, part of a broader effort to maintain over a thousand citrus trees in Monaco, including varieties of oranges, lemons, and clementines, takes place each year during January and February.

The 2024 harvest promises to be fruitful, with last year's efforts yielding 11.14 tonnes of bitter oranges, of which 4.45 tonnes were distributed at no cost to local residents and educational institutions like Lycée Rainier III. The school uses the fruit to make jams and fruit pastes, integrating the harvest into communal culinary traditions. Residents interested in obtaining some of this year's harvest can approach the gardeners directly during the collection times.

This year's harvesting operations will commence in the Rue Princesse Caroline area of La Condamine and will continue in other designated zones including Rue Grimaldi, Boulevard de Belgique, Avenue de Grande-Bretagne, and Boulevard d’Italie. Harvesting will be conducted daily from 8:00 to 14:30, weather permitting. Additionally, the ongoing “Sur la Route des Agrumes” exhibition on Rue Princesse Caroline offers a sensory exploration of citrus culture through February. For more information, contact the Urban Planning Department at +377 98 98 22 77 or via email at amenagement@gouv.mc.